By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 6: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) on Wednesday criticized the state government for the sharp escalation in the cost of the New Shillong Township Water Supply Project, alleging gross financial mismanagement and a lack of departmental coordination.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem noted that the project, originally estimated at Rs 321 crore in 2014, has now ballooned to Rs 770 crore under the MDA government. He stated that the Rs 450 crore increase raises serious concerns regarding administrative competence and the handling of public funds.
“It is unacceptable that a project conceived at Rs 321 crore has now reached Rs 770 crore. The reasons cited by the government itself show that critical issues were not properly anticipated at the planning stage,” Synrem said.
The HYC questioned the lack of foresight and feasibility studies prior to the project’s approval, asserting that taxpayers should not bear the burden of administrative failures. The organization stated that such cost inflation, occurring amidst state-wide infrastructure and healthcare gaps, raises questions about transparency and the potential misuse of public money.
The criticism follows the state Cabinet’s recent approval to revise the project cost from Rs 553 crore to Rs 770 crore. The project is currently being executed by BAC Infratech Private Limited.
Government Justification Defending the hike, MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla on Tuesday cited the need to shift the dam upstream due to a scientific landfill site being developed at Nonghali. He also attributed the increase to additional requirements for power lines and land acquisition.
When questioned on why these factors were not identified sooner, Shylla stated that the landfill location had not been finalized at the time of the initial planning.
The HYC president argued that this admission highlights a serious lack of planning, noting that the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department had already prepared detailed plans before the conflict with the landfill site emerged.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to sanction Phase II of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme, which is proposed at an estimated Rs 1,111.56 crore.
